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John ELWELL, Born c1827, Kingswinford, Stafford, Hairdresser

T

TC3

proper brummie kid
Hello,

John ELWELL was sentenced to 10 years penal servitude on 21/10/1842 at the Birmingham Boro' Sessions. He was pardoned on 25/09/1848, largely due to the submissions of Mrs Louisa Roberts, a Hairdresser, 34 Bishopgate Street, Five Ways , Birmingham. Part of her submission was that she would employ him after release. NB: Mrs Roberts, a Widow, re-married and became a "THACKERBERRY".

John ELWELL's parents were Joseph and Sarah, and he was actually baptised on 15/04/1827 at Kingswinford.

Sadly I can find no trace of John ELWELL after 1848. Did he work for Mrs. Roberts? He appeared not to re-offend and there are no truly identifiable Census returns.

Can someone help please?

Thank You

TC3
 
James Elwell was, in July 1840, convicted and full story appeared in the Journal on the 14th of June. However in the July his name appears as John and was sentenced to 10 years penal servitude due to a former conviction being proved.

Was he actually pardoned in 1848 or released early from his full sentence?
 
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This sort of thing is a tough one for genealogists. The offender may adopt a new identity to wipe the slate so to speak. Perhaps a new location for a new start. They may simply dodge the enumerator. I have not got the luxury subscription for Ancestry so perhaps if you haven't either somebody could look up John Elwell for you. For example, there is a record for a John Elwell arriving at Port Phillip Bay in Australia. Good luck!
 
John Elwell was charged for stealing a gold watch and three coins from the house of Theophilus Richards.

He was sentenced to 10 years. The totals for the Sessions were listed and he would be one of those counted as such. Transportation was another count.

(Strike this from the record, another report is shown below.)
 
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I think the maiden name of Mrs Louisa Roberts in the original post was Bright. Her father's name is listed as Samuel Bright on her marriage to Bartholomew Tackaberry.
 
1868 Kelly's gives 34 Bishopsgate Street as Thomas Bayliss, hairdresser. (close to Tennant St)

1855 White's gives Bartholomew Tackaberry at 34 Bishopgate Street.
 
34 B. Street in 1855 was Tackaberry Bart, Hairdresser. And in 1848 you say that Mrs Louisa Roberts was at 34, B Street. The 1851 Census gives Bart and wife Louisa, Susannah Roberts was stepdaughter, and living at 34, B Street.

What is the source of information on which you base the idea that Louisa Roberts would employ John Elwell?
 
Thank you for all your inputs.

There are two aspects that I should answer specifically:

(1): The John ELWELL transported to Port Philip was sentenced in 1845 in Lancaster and transported in 1847: and

(2): The information for Louisa ROBERTS is courtesy of The National Archives Ref: HO13 "Correspondence and Warrants".

For the moment

TC3
 
By the looks of the newspaper clipping John Elwell used the name Henry Bright when committing a previous crime.

John Elwell being the person helped by Mrs Roberts, nee Brght in original post.
 
MWS said:
By the looks of the newspaper clipping John Elwell used the name Henry Bright when committing a previous crime.

John Elwell being the person helped by Mrs Roberts, nee Brght in original post.
Click to expand...

And one of Louisa Roberts/Tackaberry's children was Thomas Bright Roberts.
 
pjmburns said:
So it looks as if she might have been his sister. John Elwell being an alias. I haven't found a marriage yet for Louisa Bright to a Mr Roberts.
Click to expand...

Original post implies that the name of the person is John Elwell. The wording if the newspaper clipping seems to confirm this.

Haven't seen anything to prove that he is the John Elwell born Kingswinford though and not one of the other ones born around the same time.
 
Yes, just saying my impression from the clipping was that his real name was John Elwell and his alias Henry Bright. Not the other way round. Could be wrong.
 
You would think that when Louisa Tackaberry/Roberts gave her submissions in 1848 that the real name would have been known.

So will TC3 give another clue?
 
Interesting that he tried being a barber.
Wonder where he was on earlier censuses? Also why he was 5 before he was baptised.
 
Can’t find Will Henry Bright in the 1851 census, but would you Adam and Eve it. His shop in Ryland Rd was relieved of a few items in February 1862 by a chap of the name James Figures (well that is the name given) who resided in Bishopgate Street!

You couldn’t make it up.

B3553CBB-3595-45AC-9CAC-6AAC7FBE8B29.jpeg
 
Thank you all for your inputs. I am extremely grateful.

Nevertheless, after 1848 John ELWELL still remains totally elusive and I believe it sensible, as a temporary measure, to add him to the pending tray!!

For the moment,

TC3
 
pjmburns said:
Interesting that he tried being a barber.
Wonder where he was on earlier censuses? Also why he was 5 before he was baptised.
Click to expand...

Are you thinking he may have been the illegitimate son of Louisa Bright, passed off as her brother?

Samuel and Sarah Bright appear to have been quite old when William Henry was born. 26 years after they were married when Sarah would have been in her mid 40s at least.
 
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